Since Pei Yi knew about Pei Yan’s imminent marriage to the Yu Family’s young lady, the other branches of the Pei Family all knew as well.

Out of trust in Old Madam Pei, although everyone was somewhat surprised that Pei Yan’s marriage was settled so quickly, they weren’t too shocked. When Old Master Yi mentioned it to Old Madam Yi, Old Madam Yi even smiled and teased Old Madam Pei: “She just likes beautiful girls and boys. Look at those two daughters-in-law she married in—which one doesn’t have exceptional looks?”

Old Master Yi chuckled and didn’t discuss main branch matters with his wife. Instead, he went to his study to practice calligraphy, determined to make Pei Yan’s wedding invitations something everyone would praise.

Old Madam Yi smiled and shook her head, then went to find Old Madam Wang to discuss Pei Yan’s marriage.

However, the Grand Lady only heard this news the next day.

She sat alone in a daze for half the day, feeling somewhat uncomfortable inside.

In the past, everyone thought she had married above her station and looked at her unfavorably no matter what she did. But Pei You had always stood by her side, gentle and considerate toward her, making her feel quite proud. But unexpectedly, now that she was a widow in seclusion, Pei Yan was even more outrageous than Pei You, marrying a woman who was inferior to her in both birth and family background.

Truly the student surpassing the master!

The Grand Lady sneered coldly.

In the future when people spoke of Pei Family daughters-in-law, the first one mentioned would probably be this Yu Shi.

Able to break through so many class barriers to marry into the Pei Family and even become a main branch wife—who knew how many women would envy, admire, and be jealous of her!

She called for her trusted nanny and said: “When is Second Madam leaving for the capital? Have you found out clearly?”

That nanny lowered her head and said softly: “Second Madam will leave after attending Third Master’s wedding. Second Master, however, is leaving early tomorrow morning.”

This was elevating Second Madam, having her serve as the fortunate woman!

The Grand Lady sneered again and said: “The second and third branches certainly have good relations.”

The nanny didn’t dare respond.

The Grand Lady continued: “Have the two young masters come see me.”

The nanny, as if granted amnesty, hurried to invite Pei Tong and Pei Fei in.

The Grand Lady then instructed her two sons: “Your second uncle is about to set off for the capital. Before he leaves, he’ll definitely want to speak with you. You two must listen to your second uncle’s words.”

Both agreed in unison, but they waited all day without Pei Xuan summoning them. It wasn’t until early the next morning when Pei Xuan was leaving that he patted Pei Tong and Pei Fei who had come to see him off. Sighing inwardly, he told them to be filial to the Grand Lady, listen well to Pei Yan’s words, and looked forward to hearing news of Pei Tong passing the provincial examination soon.

Pei Tong was fine with this, but Pei Fei was seething with resentment, feeling that Pei Xuan must have been influenced by Pei Yan and was bullying their first branch for losing their main branch status and having no father. Under his elder brother’s stern gaze, he reluctantly lowered his head and bowed to Pei Xuan.

Pei Xuan felt somewhat sorry for his younger brother and said: “Originally I should have stayed until you were married before leaving, but my mentor summoned me urgently…”

Pei Yan waved his hand, interrupting his elder brother’s words, and said: “Elder brother needn’t worry about me. Isn’t second sister-in-law staying behind? Just go attend to your own matters. What should be fought for, don’t give up. You’re the only one from the main branch still in official service. Who knows how long before the next generation can stand on their own!”

Pei Xuan understood his younger brother’s meaning.

Although the Pei Family had people serving as officials, if the main branch was inferior to the collateral branches, the main branch would inevitably lack authority. How could they then command the other branches?

This was a very dangerous matter.

Pei Xuan smiled without speaking but gripped his younger brother’s hand tightly. Then he turned to pat his son’s head and instructed his daughter to be filial to her mother and such. He nodded slightly toward Second Madam and boarded the boat.

The Pei Family members stood on the wharf watching Pei Xuan’s boat gradually disappear into the distance.

Pei Xuan’s son, Pei Hong, began to sob softly.

Second Madam held her son and smiled through tears, saying: “Silly child, we’ll see your father in a few months. What are you crying about?”

Old Madam Pei had already tactfully told her that after Pei Xuan was reinstated, she should continue as before—following Pei Xuan to his official posting with the children.

Just for this, Second Madam was deeply grateful to her mother-in-law in her heart and would never forget it for her entire life.

Fifth Miss had grown up with Second Madam. Second Madam had taught her reading and writing. Emotionally, she wasn’t as dependent on her father as her younger brother. She was more curious about how Yu Tang had become her third aunt.

Her eyes darted about as she looked at Pei Yan, then at Pei Tong, and finally decided to go gossip about this matter with Second Miss Pei and Third Miss Pei.

When Second Miss Pei and Third Miss Pei learned of this, they were so shocked their jaws nearly dropped. Third Miss said belatedly: “No wonder Great-grandmother didn’t want Miss Yu to play with us. It turns out she had her eye on Miss Yu to be Third Uncle’s wife.”

Account books piled a ruler high had filled the large desk. She still remembered it vividly.

Second Miss, however, was troubled by the transformation in their relative positions. Thinking that in the future she would have to call Yu Tang “Aunt” made her feel very awkward. Not only that, she also felt awkward on behalf of Gu Xi, saying: “We’re fine—we’ll all be marrying out gradually anyway. But what about Sister Gu? For her whole life she’ll have to be subordinate to Miss Yu, and Sister Gu is even older than Miss Yu.”

Just as she was saying this, Fourth Miss also received the news and came to gossip with her cousins. Hearing this, she immediately chimed in: “What does seniority have to do with age? There are plenty of examples of the youngest branch producing elders. But how did Miss Yu win Great-grandmother’s favor? I didn’t notice anything before at all.”

The three sisters huddled together muttering for a long while before Fifth Miss arrived.

Fifth Miss speculated: “Could it be because of the Ku’an Temple matter? I remember Grandmother praised her highly then and even had Manager Xiao Tong help us with that matter!”

“When was that?” Third Miss was astonished. “Could it be that Great-grandmother already had this idea back then?”

“Great-grandmother is no ordinary woman,” Fourth Miss said. “If Great-grandmother had such thoughts at that time, we definitely wouldn’t have been able to tell!”

Several of them chattered away like a room full of sparrows.

Gu Xi soon learned of it too.

She didn’t get the news from the Pei Family, but from her wet nurse—the Yu Family was lavishly preparing Yu Tang’s dowry in Hangzhou City.

“They say she’s marrying into the Pei Family, to the main branch Third Master.” Her wet nurse said anxiously. “Everyone’s gossiping about it privately. Miss, shouldn’t you send someone to the Pei Family to inquire?”

If Miss Yu really became Gu Xi’s aunt, Gu Xi would have to perform junior’s rites whenever she encountered Miss Yu in the future. Just thinking about it made Gu Xi’s wet nurse feel indignant.

Gu Xi was shocked. It took her a long while to recover. While sending someone to inquire at the Pei Family, she comforted her wet nurse: “The marketplace is full of all kinds of talk. This hasn’t been confirmed yet, but you’re already panicking. Let’s wait for news from the Pei Family.”

The wet nurse was worried but didn’t dare say more about this matter. She spoke of Yu Tang’s dowry instead: “Just for the four seasons’ clothing, they bought over a hundred bolts of cloth. Adding shoes, socks, bedding, and curtains, they nearly emptied several silk and satin shops in Hangzhou City. However, the people from their family arranging the dowry are quite shrewd—they only selected newly woven fabrics from this year. Those silk shops couldn’t sell them old patterns from previous years. People in Hangzhou City are saying that next year’s spring robe fabric prices will probably rise.”

Winter was when spring robes were made.

Gu Xi didn’t believe it.

The wet nurse said: “I didn’t believe it before either, but I heard people say the Yu Family had been very low-key. They invested in maritime trade without making a sound. If Miss Yu weren’t marrying Pei Family’s Third Master, they wouldn’t be preparing Miss Yu’s dowry with such fanfare now.”

Gu Xi said calmly: “Even so, the Yu Family’s maritime business should only be from recent years. They couldn’t possibly prepare their daughter’s dowry like this!”

When at the Pei Family villa, Yu Tang had clearly been quite impoverished.

The wet nurse said: “That’s what I said too. But people say this time the Yu Family has brought out their entire family fortune. After all, marrying off a daughter only happens once. Even if they have more silver in the future, it will have nothing to do with Miss Yu.”

Gu Xi became somewhat distracted.

Because of her dowry matters, her elder brother was no longer speaking to their father. To punish her elder brother, her father summoned him daily under the name of “filial piety” to question and scold him. Fortunately, seeing the situation was wrong, she quietly went to fetch her eldest uncle as reinforcement. Even so, her stepmother still made pointed remarks around the house every few days, being sarcastic about the first branch giving her face by contributing to her dowry.

Thinking this way, although Yu Tang’s birth wasn’t as good as hers, she was happier than her.

Gu Xi’s eyes grew slightly moist.

When Gu Chang learned of the marriage alliance between the Pei Family and Yu Family, he smiled bitterly.

Pei Yan had indeed been as bold as he expected, marrying Miss Yu as his wife.

Only someone like him—a heaven’s favored son—would do such a thing, wouldn’t he?

Gu Chang’s mind conjured up Yu Tang’s beautiful face.

He immediately suppressed that face deep in his heart.

All his life he most despised people like his father. He was about to marry soon and should wholeheartedly treat his new wife properly. If he had divided loyalties, what difference would there be between him and his father?

The Gu siblings each had their own thoughts, while Lin Shi, residing in Hangzhou City, was beside herself with rage.

Since Li Yi was imprisoned, not a single thing in their household had gone smoothly.

They had merely rented a house in the marketplace alleys for temporary residence, but somehow someone had spread details about their family. The fire-tending woman who had just worked in their household for a few days no longer wanted to work for them and made a fuss about resigning. Li Duan wanted to add some money, but she couldn’t swallow her anger and directly dismissed the woman. As a result, the people who came to work afterward were each worse than the last. This latest one had even stolen rice from their household and taken it home. When caught, she still wouldn’t admit it.

Lin Shi was so angry she could barely speak. Yet that woman kept talking back: “Seeing you were once an official’s wife, how can you be so petty? It was just a handful of your family’s rice. Why make such a fuss? If you’re so reluctant, why hire anyone at all! Cook in your own kitchen!”

Lin Shi wanted to tear her mouth apart. Fortunately Li Duan returned home and stopped Lin Shi, adding ten wen and sending the fire-tending woman away.

“When bad luck strikes, even drinking cold water will get stuck in your teeth.” Lin Shi complained there, but Li Duan didn’t speak.

He vaguely felt someone was targeting their family.

He didn’t want to guess it was Pei Yan’s doing, but besides Pei Yan, no one else had such ability and means.

Li Duan was considering whether to meet with Pei Yan.

Some words were better spoken openly.

When it was time to beg for mercy, beg for mercy. When it was time to apologize, apologize. He didn’t believe Pei Yan had such a small capacity for forgiveness.